AV Hound/Terrier PD (43,23)
1. Irving’s Dandyhow Captain Morgan. 8½ mth Border Terrier who greatly appealed and was so good to go over. He scored for overall type and size and is clearly capable of doing the job the breed was bred for. Masculine headpiece with moderate breadth to skull, short strong muzzle, excellent eye and ear and correct dentition. Soundly made all through, standing straight in front on super feet with desired thick pads and with racy, yet well-muscled, hindquarters. Neck of medium length, firm topline, ribbed well back, strong loin and tail good for set and carriage. Thick skin and harsh jacket which was presented in good order. Moving true.
2. Wilton-Clark’s Shalfleet The Lion King. 10mth Whippet. Super boy who was close up to the winner but not entirely settled on the table. He presented a super balanced outline with desired elegance of the breed. Arched neck of good length, good depth to brisket, first class topline with correct arch over the loin and excellent tail for set and carriage. Well laid shoulders, straight forelegs, firm pasterns and standing on good feet. Firm hindquarters with well developed thighs and well let down hocks. Profile action is quite something, moving out and holding his topline as he goes. Most attractive head with excellent eye and ear.
3. Coates’ Royal Pack Ukraine Leader Forever at Gladstyle NAF
AV Hound/Terrier PB (66,44)
1. Gee’s Watercroft Gold Dust. 11 mth Norfolk Terrier who ticked all the boxes for me. Most delightful head with correct skull to muzzle proportions, good breadth between the ears, dark expressive eyes, correct dentition and excellent furnishings. She is so good in outline with moderate length of neck, short level back, super rib, strong loin and tail good for both set and carriage. Well made all through with well laid shoulders, straight forelegs, excellent feet and well muscled hindquarters with nice turn of stifle and well let down hocks. Moving true and with purpose. Super coat and presentation. First day winner overall but sadly did not make the best of herself on the final day and could not be considered further.
2. Spragg’s Westpenn Sugar Mama. Top quality Welsh Terrier of 8 mths who was close up to the winner. She is an excellent type and presented a well balanced outline with slightly arched neck of medium length, short back with good length to ribcage, strong loin and tail set on well and of good carriage. Most attractive head with flat skull of moderate width, dark expressive eyes, ears set on correctly, powerful jaws and correct scissor bite. Well made all through, standing well naturally on the best of feet and so very well muscled and shown in super hard condition. Moving straight on the down and back and using herself fully as she goes. Excellent colour and hard, wiry jacket.
3. Bates’ Gunthwaites Midnite Swinga
AV Toy/Utility PD (37,21)
1. Dunhill Hall’s Vormund Sinister. 10 mth Black & Tan Japanese Shiba Inu. Top quality youngster who fills the eye. Well balanced with slightly arched neck of moderate length, firm level topline, ribbed well back, nice short loin and curled tail set on high. Masculine headpiece with no suggestion of coarseness, flat skull of good breadth, well developed cheeks, dark almond-shaped eyes which are obliquely set and first class ears for size and set; all these features combining to give the very best of expressions. He is soundly built all through, standing nice and straight in front on cat-like feet and moderately angulated rear with nice strong hocks. Moving true and in correct fashion for the breed and making the best of himself at all times. Overall winner on the second day and on the final day he put on an exemplary performance once again and was a most worthy winner to go forward to the Grand Final at Crufts.
2. Coad’s Regina Bichon You Rock My World at Pamplona ARAF. 7 mth Bichon Frise. Another quality youngster but one who needs more time to see the best of him. He presented a well balanced outline with neck of good length, firm topline with good length to ribcage and rib developing well for age, broad loin and tail good for both set and carriage. Most delightful head and expression with good skull to muzzle proportions, dark round eyes with desired haloes, flat cheeks, excellent pigmentation and correct dentition. Nicely made all through with straight forelegs, nice tight feet and good turn of stifle. Moving out well, showing pads as he goes. Quality coat and presentation.
3. Howard’s Tameron Mr Guilty Black
AV Toy/Utility PB (59,37)
1. Kitchener’s Michandy Realization. 8 mth Black Miniature Poodle who really appealed. Feminine girl who scored for overall type and balance. Most attractive headpiece of good length, moderate stop, dark almond-shaped eyes and correct dentition. Neck of good length, short back with firm topline, excellent rib for age, broad loin and tail set on well and of good carriage. Well constructed front and rear with well laid shoulders, nice straight forelegs, correct oval-shaped feet and well muscled hindquarters with good turn of stifle and hocks well let down. Free, stylish action with excellent drive from the rear. Super presentation.
2. Roskell’s Rahima Queen of Shiba. 6 mth red Japanese Shiba Inu. Another super puppy who was unlucky to come up against the winner. She has the most beautiful head and expression with good breadth to her flat skull, well developed cheeks, dark almond-shaped eyes of correct set, small ears set on well and inclining forward and correct dentition. Muscular neck of correct length, level topline, super rib, short loin and tail set on high. Given her first class construction, she was so good to go over; moderate angulation both front and rear, straight forelegs, excellent feet and well developed, firm hindquarters. Moving true and handled to advantage.
3. Bostock, Armstrong & Troya’s Ruthdales Superior Fyre Power
AV Working/Pastoral PD (58,36)
1. Atkins & Charles’ Memorylane Do The Tra-la-laa at Snikkles (Fin Imp). 10 mth Bearded Collie. Quality youngster who was a pleasure to go over and I thought such a good type. Correctly proportioned head with nice breadth to skull, moderate stop, good eye for shape and colour, excellent pigmentation and correct scissor bite. Balanced in outline with slightly arched neck of good length, firm level topline with good length to ribcage, strong loin and tail set on low which he carries correctly. Well laid shoulders, straight well-boned forelegs and muscular hindquarters with good turn of stifle. Moving true with super side gait, covering the ground with seemingly little effort.
2. Veal’s Philoma Midnight Sun. Black Giant Schnauzer approaching 11 mths who was close up to the winner. He appealed for overall type and balance and another who was good to go over. He presented a well balanced outline with strong neck of good length, straight back with slight slope from withers to croup, ribbed well back, good depth of brisket and tail set on high and of correct carriage. Most attractive head with moderate breadth between the ears, moderate stop, strong muzzle, excellent eye and ear and correct dentition. Well made all through, standing straight in front on good feet and strong, well muscled hindquarters with good turn of stifle. Moving freely with good drive from the rear and using himself as he goes. Quality coat and presentation.
3. Allen’s TK’s Time Bandit (Imp)
AV Working/Pastoral PB Stakes (47,32)
1. Foster’s Fostebrie Precious Hope (AI). Black Briard bitch just coming up to 12 mths. Quality youngster who appealed for overall size and balance and was good to go over. Feminine headpiece of good proportions, slightly rounded skull, the very best of eyes, strong muzzle and correct dentition. Muscular neck of good length, firm level topline, ribbed well back and nicely sprung, slight slope to croup and tail of good set and carriage. Well laid shoulders, straight well boned forelegs and muscular hindquarters with good turn of stifle. She moved out well with good drive from the rear, holding her topline as she went. Very well handled. Overall winner on the 3rd day.
2. Cameron’s Camnoire Final Verdict. Black Newfoundland of 8 mths who was close up to the winner but gave a little away on age. Well balanced girl, feminine throughout, but conveying the impression of strength as called for in the standard. Neck of good length, firm level topline, ribbed well back and rib developing well for age, good depth to chest, muscular loin and tail of correct set and carriage. Most attractive head with good breadth to skull, short muzzle, dark clean eyes and correct dentition. First class construction, standing nice and straight in front on correct feet and muscular hindquarters with good angulation. Moving freely with particularly good profile action.
3. Walters’ Goytre Summer Breeze
AV Gundog PD (30,16)
1. Thomas’ Hosokter Tompa. 9½ mth Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. Quality youngster who appealed for size, balance and overall type. Well built throughout and carrying good bone, he is all male and should have a bright future. Moderate breadth of skull, expressive eyes of good colour, correct pigmentation and scissor bite with nice large teeth. Muscular neck of good length, level topline, good depth of brisket, ribs extending well back, strong loin and tail of correct set and carriage. First class front assembly and nicely angulated hindquarters with well developed thighs for one so young. Moving freely, covering the ground and using himself as he goes.
2. Gadsby & Lynn’s Afterglow London Grammar. 7 mth parti-colour American Cocker Spaniel. Another quality pup and ran the winner close. Balanced boy with slightly arched neck of good length, short back sloping slightly from withers to tail, super rib for one so young and nice short loin. Most attractive head with good skull to muzzle proportions, round eyes of good colour, nice chiselling and good depth to muzzle. Soundly constructed all through with well boned, straight forelegs, firms pasterns and well muscled hindquarters with good turn of stifle and well let down hocks. Covering the ground with excellent drive from the rear.
3. Johnstone’s Glenbrows Valentino for Gilpeta
AV Gundog PB (65,37)
1. Gadsby & Lynn’s Afterglow Paris Dupree. 7 mth parti-colour American Cocker Spaniel who I thought was quite delightful. She presented a beautifully balanced outline and was so good to go over. Stunning headpiece with ultra-feminine expression; good skull to muzzle proportions, well defined stop, dark round eyes of correct set, super chiselling, broad muzzle of good depth, correct dentition and excellent pigmentation. Slightly arched neck of good length, nice short back with desired slope from withers to tail, ribbed well back and good depth to brisket, muscular loin and tail good for both set and carriage. Soundly made both front and rear and moving out with seemingly little effort, covering the ground as she goes. Overall winner on the 4th day and ended the competition as the runner-up to the outstanding Shiba.
2. Davies’ Kerriglow Honesty. 10 mth black Cocker Spaniel. Another super pup with the most wonderful temperament. This girl was so good to go over and presented a super outline with muscular neck of moderate length, firm level topline with gentle slope from withers to tail, rib developing well for age and extending well back, nice short loin and tail of correct carriage. Most attractive headpiece with feminine expression. Well made throughout with well-boned straight forelegs, standing on excellent feet and muscular hindquarters with good turn of stifle. She was moved at just the right pace and was true on the down and back and covered the ground well in profile. Quality coat and presentation.
3. Price’s Aldom Rose Fizz
Judge: Tim Ball